The group . . . literally "the noble band of the ghetto" . . . are an enlightened alliance of young gypsy musicians and retired Romanian army bandsmen. The former all hail originally from the small village of Clejani, famous world-wide as home to some 50 professional musicians, including the members of the celebrated Taraf de Haidouks who visited Ireland to great acclaim in 2003.

The latter were once part of Ceaucescu's grandiose army, which at its height numbered 30,000 musicians among its ranks, all now decommissioned, like the other more sinister instruments of that regime.

Together, they form a living link between the past and the future of gypsy music, the traditions of the old-timers being reinvigorated by the contemporary elements injected by the younger generation, who are related to the Haidouks musicians but grew up in the urban ghettoes of Bucharest.

What is really interesting, and what has made Romanian wedding music popular around the world, is how instantly accessible and infectiously joyous this music is. When Taraf de Haidouks and Mahal Rai Banda take to the European concert circuit, their concerts may not last a few days, but the sheer energy and the frenetic grooves that they conjure with their instruments are nonetheless suitably and satisfyingly exhausting.

Joining them for the night will be Ireland's own Balkan revellers, Yurodny and the The North Strand Klezmer Band, ample proof that Irish jazz musicians nowadays are looking far beyond the African-American tradition for inspiration.

>> The prime mover behind Yurodny, and several other of the Irish music scene's more adventurous groups, is alto saxophonist Nick Roth, and Roth is also a member of the RISE saxophone quartet who can be heard in JJ Smyths in Dublin tonight. Also featuring Cathal Roche on soprano, Patrice Brun on tenor and Ian Finlay on baritone, RISE are four horns, unaccompanied (or is that unencumbered? ) by the usual rhythm-section suspects, and they range freely over the musical landscape from Tim Berne and Chick Corea to Bartok, Piazzolla and Ligeti. Sunday nights in December are looking promising at JJs, with the intimate Aungier Street venue playing host to a succession of heavyweight bands.

Clashing alas with the Romanians on the third will be a rare performance from Guilfoyle/Buckley/ Guilfoyle, an alliance of three of the Irish scene's most influential musicians. The saxophone trio format is one of the most open and dynamic in all of music, and one which bassist Ronan Guilfoyle has explored in depth with his own international line-ups. This will be an all-Irish affair however, with the country's leading saxophonist Michael Buckley and drummer Conor Guilfoyle, making for a powerhouse trio. Light the blue touch paper and stand well back.

Then on the 10th, JJs welcomes a new arrival to the Dublin scene, trumpeter Paul Williamson. One of the leading lights of the Melbourne jazz scene for the last decade, Williamson begins a twoyear sojourn in Ireland with a concert also featuring Buckley on saxophone.